Comprehensive Study Guide for 11th Grade National Defense and Security Education
Protecting National Territory, Sovereignty, and National Borders of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
The cause of national defense in Vietnam is guided by the fundamental principle of maintaining the direct, absolute, and comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. In the strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation, a clear distinction is made between partners and objects. Partners are defined as any entities that respect Vietnam's independence and sovereignty while establishing and expanding friendly relations, equal cooperation, and mutual benefit. Conversely, objects are identified as any forces that harbor plots or take actions to sabotage the country's goals in the process of building and protecting the Fatherland. The protection of the socialist regime and the peace of the nation are central to identifying these threats.
International and domestic laws provide the legal framework for maritime sovereignty. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) serves as the primary international regulation, governing the boundaries of the territorial sea, contiguous zone, and continental shelf, as well as the high seas, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the protection of the marine environment. Domestically, the Law of the Sea of Vietnam was passed by the National Assembly on June 21, 2012, and became effective on January 1, 2013. This law consists of 7 chapters and 55 articles, defining the legal status of Vietnam's maritime zones, which include internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf, as well as islands and archipelagos like the Paracels (Hoàng Sa) and the Spratlys (Trường Sa).
Maritime boundaries are defined by specific distances and technical measurements. The territorial sea extends nautical miles from the baseline, while the contiguous zone is the sea area adjacent to and outside the territorial sea, with a width of nautical miles calculated from the baseline. The exclusive economic zone is a sea area that, combined with the territorial sea, forms a zone with a width of nautical miles from the baseline. The continental shelf's outer boundary can extend up to a maximum of nautical miles from the baseline. Boundaries are officially demarcated using specific systems: the land border is marked by a system of national border markers, while the maritime border is determined by coordinates on nautical charts. The air border zone is defined as the space along the national border with a width of km extending inward from the border. The underground border is a vertical plane extending downward from the land and sea borders into the earth.
Historical and practical responsibilities are vital for border management. Vietnam shares land borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia, with the border shared with Laos being the longest. There is a unique triangular pillar at the border intersection of three countries. Public awareness is anchored in historical reminders, such as the statement made by Uncle Ho on September 19, 1954, to the Vanguard Division: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country, we must work together to protect it." Citizens are legally prohibited from acts that sabotage security and order at the borders. Every March 3rd is celebrated as All-People Border Defense Day. Prohibited actions in border zones include using unauthorized technology like flycams to cross borders or entering neighboring territory illegally for photography, both of which violate the Law on National Borders.
Law on Military Service and Student Responsibility
Military service is an obligatory duty for citizens within the specified age range, regardless of their ethnic background, social class, creed, religion, educational level, occupation, or place of residence. Male citizens must register for military service starting at the age of , while female citizens who are at least years old and possess specialized skills required by the People's Army may also be selected. The first-time registration for 17-year-old males is commanded by the Chief of the Commune-level Military Command and typically occurs in April. Registration notices must be delivered to the citizen's place of residence at least days before the scheduled registration date. Students register directly at the District-level Military Command.
The age for being called to active duty generally ranges from the age of enough to the end of . However, for citizens who are current students in college or university programs and have been granted a temporary postponement, the call-up age is extended to the end of . Eligibility criteria include a clear background, strict compliance with the Party's guidelines and State laws, adequate health for active service as regulated, and an appropriate educational level. The health check for military service is conducted annually from November 1st to December 31st. Citizens are usually called for enlistment once a year in February or March, though a second call-up may occur in necessary cases involving national defense, security, or disasters.
Service durations and exemptions are strictly codified. The standard duration of active service for non-commissioned officers and soldiers in peacetime is months. This may be extended by up to months during times of epidemic prevention or emergencies. Specific roles like permanent militia members or those serving on fishery surveillance ships are recognized as completing active service after serving for at least months. Public security service requires a continuous term of months. Exemptions are granted to those with significant family hardships, such as being the only child of a person affected by Agent Orange with a labor capacity reduction of or more. Temporary postponements are granted for students in formal university programs or those with family members suffering to labor capacity reduction. Legal documents such as Decree No. 13/2016/NĐ-CP (health checks) and Decree No. 70/2019/NĐ-CP (Public Security service) regulate these policies. Evading service through fraudulent health results is a crime punishable by fines, non-custodial reform, or imprisonment.
Prevention of Social Vices in Vietnam during International Integration
Crime is defined in the Penal Code as a socially dangerous act committed by a person with criminal responsibility or a commercial legal entity. These acts can be intentional or unintentional and infringe upon national independence, sovereignty, the political and economic system, culture, and security. Common criminal methods include forming gangs and organizations, utilizing high technology, and operating across multiple provinces using weapons or deceitful tactics. High-tech crime specifically involves the use of advanced knowledge, skills, and IT tools to infringe upon information safety and state or personal interests. Typical behaviors in this category include spreading malware, intercepting data, illegal drug sales online, and stealing bank account information. The Penal Code of 2015 (amended in 2017) contains chapters detailing punishments for various crimes.
Social vices are negative phenomena characterized by behaviors that violate social norms, moral standards, and the law. Drug-related vices include the illegal use of drugs or drug addiction that may not yet reach the level of criminal prosecution. Prostitution involves buying, selling, or brokering sex, including forced prostitution. Gambling encompasses betting money or material interests in games or organizing such activities illegally. Superstition involves blind, excessive belief in vague things leading to cuilt-like behavior that deviates from moral and legal standards. Specific examples of superstition include fortune-telling (bói toán), while traditional customs like worshiping ancestors or the Kitchen God are not considered vices. Cultural markers like the saying "Thầy đề cho số tào lao/ Thầy bói nói dựa, chỗ nào cũng ma" highlight the absurdity of superstition, while "Đánh đề ra đê mà ở" warns against gambling.
Enforcement and responsibility regarding social vices fall under both administrative and criminal law. Activities like participating in or organizing superstition during festivals are subject to administrative fines under Decree No. 38/2021/NĐ-CP. Citizens have a responsibility to participate in healthy propagation activities, study legal regulations, and assist authorities in investigating violations. It is a violation of the law to participate in betting games using money, even if invited by friends. Acts like exploiting massage services for prostitution brokerage are strictly prohibited. Punishment for distributing harmful computer programs includes fines, non-custodial reform, or prison sentences.
Legal Issues Regarding Environmental Protection Violations
The environment comprises natural and man-made physical factors that surround human life and influence the economy, society, and the existence of all organisms. It serves vital roles as a living space, a source of resources, a place for waste decomposition, and a repository of the evolutionary history of Earth and its species. Environmental security refers to the system of elements that maintain an equilibrium to ensure living conditions. Threats to this security include natural disasters, epidemics, and unauthorized migration. Negative drivers for migration include land pollution, resource depletion, and the destruction of ecosystems. Climate change, primarily caused by human activities altering the global atmosphere, manifests through rising sea levels, erratic rainfall, and increased global average temperatures.
Environmental pollution is the physical, chemical, or biological modification of environmental components that fails to meet technical standards, harming health and nature. Protection activities include preventing or limiting negative impacts, responding to incidents, remediating degradation, and improving environmental quality. Human activity is the primary cause of environmental pollution and degradation. To protect soil, water, and air, the government and communities must avoid the abuse of pesticides/chemical fertilizers, stop discharging untreated waste into water bodies, and prevent the release of untreated toxic gases. Environmental restoration and pollution remediation are the responsibilities of the specific agencies, organizations, or individuals who caused the damage.
Citizens and students have specific legal responsibilities in environmental protection. The law strictly prohibits discharging untreated waste, burying hazardous waste incorrectly, or spreading untested viruses into the environment. Citizens must take an active role in preventing and responding to disasters, complying with the law, and reporting violations. Students contribute by using resources like land, water, and energy efficiently, participating in local protection activities, and encouraging relatives to follow environmental laws. However, students do not have the authority to issue official guidelines or legal policies, as that is the role of the State.
Law on Management of Weapons, Explosives, and Support Tools
Weapons are defined as devices or sets of means manufactured with the capability to cause injury, endanger life and health, or destroy material structures. They are categorized into military weapons, hunting guns, rudimentary weapons, sports weapons, and those with similar properties. Hunting guns are manual or industrial firearms used for hunting. Rudimentary weapons have simple structures and include daggers, swords, spears, bows, and throwing stars. Sports weapons are used specifically for training and athletic competition. Explosives are products that, under an initial stimulus, cause quick chemical reactions producing heat, gas, light, and sound; they include explosives proper and firing accessories. Support tools are specialized means or animals used to perform official duties to prevent resistance or escape and to protect officials.
The management and use of these items must follow strict principles: they must be used for the correct purpose, according to legal regulations, and only by authorized subjects. All research, production, trading, transportation, and use must be licensed or certified by competent authorities. Items that are expired, damaged, or no longer needed must be collected, liquidated, or destroyed. Individuals are generally prohibited from owning military weapons; however, they may possess rudimentary weapons as family heirlooms or exhibits if they declare them and receive certification from the commune-level police. When individuals discover or pick up weapons, they must report and hand them over to the nearest Military Command, Police office, or People's Committee. Acts such as sawing or drilling into bombs, mines, and grenades to extract materials are strictly prohibited and punishable by law.
Responsibility for equipping and using these materials is distributed among high-level authorities. Based on task requirements, the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security regulate the distribution of weapons and support tools within their respective jurisdictions. Targeted groups for equipment include the People's Army, the People's Public Security, the Coast Guard, and other designated forces. It is the responsibility of citizens and students to study the law, comply with regulations, hand over unauthorized weapons to authorities, and report violations. Concealing the illegal acts of others regarding weapons or explosives is a violation of citizenship duties and is subject to punishment.